Pasting machine for wall covering material



June 25, 1968 A. A. MOORE PASTING MACHINE FOR WALL COVERING MATERIAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR A4 F260 4. M0026 Filed May 8, 1967 BY I %t 4 ATTOZMFVS June 25, 1968 A. A. MOORE PASTING MACHINE FOR WALL COVERING MATERIAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 8. 1967 INVENTOR 44 map A. M0026 rmeA/a s United States Patent 3,389,680 PASTING MACHINE FOR WALL COVERING MATERIAL Alfred A. Moore, 5602 N. Burton Ave., San Gabriel, Calif. 91776 Filed May 8, 1967, Ser. No. 636,833 21 Claims. (Cl. 118-42) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE Apparatus for applying paste to a strip of wall covering material including a shallow trough filled with paste which may be detachably mounted on a ladder. The strip travels along the bottom of the trough, through the paste, and outward through a dispensing slot in the bottom of one wall. The lower portion of the slot is in the form of a flexible and resilient pressure plate which holds the strip material pressed upwardly against a fabric mesh which forms the upper edge of the slot.

This invention relates to a simple inexpensive portable machine for use in applying a coating of paste or adhesive to strip wall covering materials and more particularly those which are impervious to moisture, as for example, those having a plastic film laminated to fabric backing. Typically, the machine comprises a main body provided with a shallow wide trough having a bottom sloping into a dispensing slot for the strip material and formed between this bottom and a side wall of the trough. The portion of the bottom adjacent the slot comprises a flexible and resilient pressure plate normally stressed sufiiciently to hold the strip material pressed upwardly against the reticulated upper edge of the slot to provide a paste seal and to assure a uniform layer of paste. The strip material is supplied from one or more rolls supported at the rear of the machine with the fabric surface facing upwardly and fed across the bottom of the trough and through the dispensing slot. A quantity of paste is retained in the trough above the strip material;

Another feature of the machine is the provision of an adjustable end wall clampable crosswise of the trough to restrict the charge of paste to the width of the strip material then in use in the machine. The machine is designed for detachable anchorage to the top of a step ladder and includes panel means inclined downwardly from the dispensing slot along one side of the step ladder for the operators convenience in measuring and folding a pasted length of strip material. This panel is adjustable in length and preferably includes a flexible covering and easily operated means for tensioning the covering to provide a firm support after an adjusting operation. This panel means includes shearing means extending closely parallel to the dispensing slot for use in severing a dispensed length of strip material.

The present invention has been provided to expedite, simplify the application of a uniform layer of adhesive or paste to decorative wall coverings and more particularly those which are impervious to moisture. The machine features simplicity, ease of assembly, disassembly, adjustment and cleaning and it is characterized by its speed of operation and the uniformity of the results produced. The machine is selectively usable while supported on a table top or alternatively on the top of a step ladder. In the latter case, the machine is preferably used with a downwardly inclined extendable panel for convenience in meas uring and folding the surface of a dispensed length of material. Either single or multiple strips of wall covering may be threaded beneath suitable drag applying means and through the dispensing slot after which a charge of paste is charged into the machine above the uppermost layer 3,389,686 Patented June 25, 1968 "ice of the strip material. After the uppermost strip has been dispensed, until the supply becomes exhausted, the operator proceeds to dispense and paste successive ones of the lower layers until all have been used.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive, rugged, easily operated pasting machine for applying a uniform layer of paste to the backing of wall covering material as the latter is dispensed from the machine.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a versatile pasting machine adapted to be used with wall covering materials of varying widths.

, Another object of the invention is the provision of a pasting machine having a unique and improved means for applying a layer of paste to strip material as it is dispensed through a dispensing slot equipped with reticulated paste spreading means along one edge and a flexible pressure plate along the opposite edge.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a pasting machine for wall covering material adapted to be detachably clamped to a suitable support, such as a step ladder, and featuring extendable-retractable panel means extending downwardly from the machine along one side of the step ladder.

These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawings to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the pasting machine supported on a step ladder and located in readiness for use with portions broken away to show constructional details;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the machine proper;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view on an enlarged scale with parts broken away;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view on enlarged scale taken along line 4-4 on FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view taken along line 55 on FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 66 on FIGURE 2.

Referring more particularly initially to FIGURE 1 there is shown a typical embodiment of a pasting machine designated generally 10 incorporating the features of the present invention clamped to the top of a conventional folding step ladder 11. Machine 10 as herein shown is formed from suitable lightweight material, as laminated wood, and includes a main body having end walls 12, 12 secured across the opposite ends of a transverse frame member 13 and a wide downwardly inclined bottom 14. Bottom 14, endwalls 12, 12, and a removable generally vertically disposed side wall 16 cooperate in forming a shallow trough for a quantity of thick paste 15 .(FIGURES 2, 4). Side wall 16 is held pressed against the generally upright ends 18 of end walls 12 by L-shaped clips 19 formed from an endless loop of wire and having the configuration shown in the drawings. Wing nuts 20 carried on threaded studs projecting from the outer faces of end walls 12 are tightened to hold clips 19 firmly in place with the inner face of side walls 16 pressed against the ends 18 if end walls 12. Only light pressure is required and it will be understood that a suitable gasket may be provided between the contacting surfaces if desired.

The lower edge of side wall 16 should be reticulated to assure uniform spreading of the paste to a desired thickness. Such a reticulated surface may be provided in numerous ways but an arrangement found highly satisfactory as shown in FIGURE 4 comprises a channel shaped strip 23 of a type commonly used in forming a frame for window screens, doors, and the like and having a general configuration illustrated. This strip is held pressed against the lower edge of side wall 16 by L-shaped clips 24 at either end thereof held in place by screws 25. Sandwiched between the lower edge of side wall 16 and clamping strip 23 is an inner strip of soft impervious sheet material 27 and an outer strip of mesh material 28. Strip 27 may comprise'a strip of rubber, plastic or plasticized fabric exhibiting limited resiliency and readily cleaned of paste at the end of a pasting operation. Fabric mesh or netting 28 is preferably formed of plastic filaments loosely woven together. To assemble these strips, clamping strip 23is demounted and the superimposed strips 27, 28 are folded about the exterior of clamping strip 23 with the netting outermost. Thereafter the clamping strip so prepared is remounted against the lower edge of side wall 16 and in such manner that the shorter leg of the L-shaped member 29 folds the pair of strip edges into the outwardly facing groove 30 of the clamping strip. Thereafter, the shorter legs of the L-shaped clips 24 are inserted into the ends of the clamping strip 23 and screws 25 are tightened. It will be understood that clamping strip 29, secured to the outer lower corner of side wall 16, usually need not be loosened since layers 27, 28 have a snug fit within the inturned edge of this strip. The free edges of the back-up strip 27 and mesh 28 underlying clamping strip 23 project freely through the exterior side of the dispensing slot and need not be secured to anything since the drag friction of the strip material being dispensed through the slot serves to maintain both smoothly and snugly against the clamping member.

Underlying reticulated material 28 is the important pressure plate 32. As herein shown, this plate is formed of thin stiff but highly resilient sheet plastic having a smooth upper surface. Pressure plate 32 is bonded or otherwise securely mounted in an indentation 33 formed in bottom 14 with its upper surface lying flush with the upper surface of bottom 14. Bottom 14 is further provided with a shallow recess 34 underlying the outer half of pressure plate 32. Recess 34 allows the portion of the pressure plate overlying the recess to flex freely downwardly as pressure is applied to it by dispensing strip material through the dispensing slot in a downwardly inclined direction. It will be understood that the dispensing slot for the strip material is formed between the upper surface of pressure plate 32 and the layers of back-up material 27 and reticulated material 28 underlying the lower edge of side wall member 16. The thickness or height of this dispensing slot will vary depending upon the thickness of the wall covering being pasted as well as upon the number of superimposed layers of strip material threaded through the slot at the beginning of a pasting operation. The flexibility of pressure plate 32 compensates in part for these variable factors. Additionally, and importantly, the pressure acting on the material in the dispensing slot is adjustable by a pair of resilient clamps 36, best shown in FIGURE 3, and bearing downwardly against each end of the upper edge of side wall 16. The longer legs of these L-shaped clamps 36 lie generally parallel to the upper edges of end walls 12 with their free ends bearing resiliently against the upper edge of the side wall. A wing nut 37 mounted on a threaded stud extending through the clips enables the user to adjust the pressure applied by the clips to each end of side wall member 16.

The main frame member 13 of the machine will be observed in FIGURE 4 as projecting forwardly beyond the front of side wall 16 to provide a support for a shear plate 39 having a straight sharp edge 40 lying parallel to the dispensing slot. This edge is useful as a guide for a severing blade when cutting off a length of the strip material.

To aid in holding the strip material flat and slightly taut against the surface of bottom 14 it is desirable to employ a drag force against the material. This is easily accomplished by the action of a gravity actuated rod 42 having its ends held captive in upwardly opening slots 43 formed in the inner facesof end Walls 12, 12 closely adjacent the back edge of bottom 14, and best shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. This weight serves to hold the material pressed against the bottom at that point and provides light drag on strip material 46 about to enter the pasting chamber. In consequence, the strip is held flat and evenly tensioned throughout its width.

Another pair of upwardly and rearwardly inclined grooves 44 are formed in the rear ends of walls 12, 12 as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, and support to receive and support a rod or roller 45 on which an individual roll of strip material 46 is mounted. Desirably, additional rolls of strip material 47, 48 are supported in a pair of C- shaped hooks 50 supported along the rear edge of frame member 13. Each hook has an L-shaped suspension bracket (FIGURE 3) having an end 52 engaged in an opening 53 formed in frame member 13. The C-shaped members 5% are readily detachable from the supporting openings 53 when the machine is not in use, the weight of the hooks and of the rolls supported therein being effective to hold the hooks in assembled position.

Main frame 13 of the pasting machine is preferably anchored across the header 63 of step ladder 11 by clamping means best shown in FIGURE 5. Suitable clamping means for this purpose is there shown as comprising a pair of clips 55 formed from stiff rod stock and having loop 56 at one end of each encircling a respective threaded stud 57 projecting downwardly from frame 13 and having thumb nuts 58 on their outer ends. The other end 60 of clip 55 is formed to swing into and out of engagement beneath a thumb nut 61 threaded to a stud 62 similar to stud 57. Studs 58 and 62 are spaced sufficiently to accommodate the width of the step ladder header 63, clips 55 passing beneath and being clamped against the under side of this header.

Referring to FIGURES 2 and 3 it is pointed out that the trough of the machine charged with paste 15 is preferably provided with an adjustable partition member 65 having its lower and forward edges shaped to fit snugly against bottom 14 and side wall 16, respectively, of the trough. Extending downwardly through the rear end of partition 65 is a clamping bolt 66 having a thumb nut 67 on its upper end. The shank of this bolt 66 passes down wardly through an elongated slot 68 extending lengthwise of bottom 14 near its rear edge. When the thumb nut 67 is loosened partition 65 may be shifted lengthwise of the V-shaped paste trough until it lies closely beside the adjacent edge of strip material 46 then in use in the machine, the opposite lateral edge of the strip being adjusted to lie closely beside the inner surface of end wall 12. Desirably, about inch spacing is left between each edge of the strip material and end wall 12 or partition 65. This avoids the risk of binding or jamming of the strip material during dispensing.

When the pasting machine is anchored on top of a step ladder, as it normally is according to one preferred mode of use, the machine has attached thereto panel means designated generally 70 and best illustrated in FIGURES 1, 3 and 6. Panel means 70 extends downwardly along the adjacent side of the step ladder and lies at an acute angle to the vertical. Panel 70 has a readily expandable and contractable rigid frame 71 here shown as formed of heavy gauge wire, its upper end 72 being firmly anchored to main frame 13 of the machine by thumb nuts 73 (FIG- URE 2). Frame 71 includes an upper half 74 and a lower half 75 the mid-length portions overlapping and adjustably secured together in telescoping relationship by thumb nuts 76, 76. The upper and lower ends of frame halves 74, 75 are rigidly interconnected by cross-brace rods 78, 78 having hooked ends extending away from one another as shown in FIGURE 1. Cross rods 78 are welded to the heads of bolts 79 (FIGURE 6) extending through a spacer nut 86 and a. thumb nut 87. Additional bracing for upper frame half 74 is provided by a trimming bar 80 comprising a pair of fiat strips of material welded to spacers 81, the inner strip being welded to the head of a bolt 82 firmly secured to frame 74 by thumb nut 83. The outer strip of the trimming bar 80 is provided with a guide slot the edges of which serve as shearing edge and to guide a trimming blade 85 while severing a dispensed length of strip material 46 from the main supply in the manner best shown in FIGURE 6.

The frame of panel means 70 is preferably provided with heavy tensioned sheeting material 88 such as canvas or vinyl coated fabric. This fabric is substantially longer than required and its opposite ends are looped about the remotely spaced runs of a keeper loop 89 supported by bolts 79 for the upper and lower cross-brace rods 78. It will be understood that the keeper loop 89 comprises a closed loop of stiff wire flattened to have its opposite sides or runs lying parallel and closely spaced from one another as is best illustrated in FIGURE 6. The length of this loop is less than that of rods 78 and is thereby held captively but loosely assembled beneath these rods. The opposite ends of sheeting 88 are looped about the remote runs of keeper loops 89 and then threaded between these runs and about cross-brace rods 78 as shown in FIGURE 6. To adjust the length of sheeting 88, the user loosens the frame clamping thumb nuts 76, 76 and retracts the frames until there is slack in the sheeting. The sheeting is then adjusted to a desired length following which the two frame halves are telescoped away from one another to tension the sheeting as keeper loops 89 are pulled snugly against the adjacent one of brace rods 78, whereupon thumb nuts 76 are tightened. The sheeting is now held tautly stretched and provides a firm working surface for use in measuring a length of dispensed stripping and in folding it. The measuring operation is conveniently accomplished by measuring the distance from the shearing edge of strip 80 and a point along the edge of sheeting 88, the desired distance being marked by applying one or more clips 92, 93 (FIGURE 1) along one edge of the sheeting.

Another auxiliary customarily used with panel means 70 will now be described with reference to FIGURES 1, 3 and 4. This auxiliary comprises a rest support for strip material 46 issuing from the dispensing slot and serving to prevent tension applied during a dispensing operation to depress pressure plate 32 and opening the dispensing slot. Due to the height of the machine when supported on a ladder the operator can apply considerable tension to the paper if it is pulled downwardly at a steep angle, an operation which can depress pressure plate 32 and open the dispensing slot excessively. This undesirable result is prevented by a rest or support auxiliary comprising a flattened loop of heavy gauge wire 95 having parallel sides interconnected by short radius return bends located adjacent the opposite ends of the dispensing slot. The lower side of the loop rests at its ends within a pair of J-shaped clamping clips 96 formed of stiff wire and anchored to the exterior surfaces of end walls 12 by thumb nuts 97. As is made clear by FIGURES 3 and 4, support loo 95 lies in an inclined plane along the front side of the machine such that its upper run 93 rests against the outer edge of pressure plate 32 and beneath the dispensed end of strip material 46. Accordingly, any tension applied to the outer end of the strip is carried by upper run 98 of support member 95 rather than pressure plate 32.

The operation of the invention pasting machine will be readily apparent from the foregoing detailed description of its components and their operative and functional relationshi to one another. The machine having been set up and secured to the top of a step ladder as described above, the operator proceeds to unroll a length of material 46, 47, 48 from several different rolls. These unrolled lengths are fed across the rear edge of bottom wall 14 of the machine and through the dispensing slot until short lengths project beyond the outer edge of the pressure plate as is shown in FIGURE 4. As many layers as is desired are threaded into the machine in this manner, the individual rolls being supported in suspension loops 50 at the rear of the machine. The final one of the rolls, however, is supported on rod 45 and its ends are seated in grooves 44 in the side walls of the machine. After the superimposed strips have been flattened, drag rod 42 is inserted through the upper ends of grooves 43 to hold the sheets stretched tautly against the bottom of the trough. If the clamping supports 36, 37 of the removable side wall have been loosened to facilitate the threading operation, thumb nuts 37 are tightened until the desired pressure is applied to the layers of strip material extending through the dispensing slot. Also partition 65 (FIG- URE 2) is adjusted to lie closely spaced from the adjacent edges of the strip material following which its clamping nut 67 is firmly tightened. It will be understood from FIGURE 4 that support member 95 bears against any layers of material underlying top layer 46 and acts to clamp these strips firmly against the forward wall of the machine and avoids premature and unintended dispensing of these strips.

The foregoing adjustments having been made, the operator proceeds to distribute a quantity of thick paste 15 along the pasting trough immediately to the rear of the dispensing slot. The machine is now in readiness for use.

The protruding free edge of strip 46 is pulled outwardly causing a layer of paste to a desired thickness, controlled by the adjustment of thumb nuts 36, to be applied and spread evenly across the entire upper surface of strip 46, the dispensing operation being continued until a desired length has been withdrawn whereupon the lower end may be folded upwardly and laid fiat against the underlying portion of the strip. Thereafter a short length of additional strip material can be dispensed. When the required length has been withdrawn, the upper edge will lie directly opposite the severing slots of cutting bar 80. The operator then severs the material using a blade applied in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6 and using the slot along the midportion of bar 30 or the upper edge of this bar as a guide in accordance with the users preference. Additional lengths of pasted strip material are dispensed in the same manner. After the first roll has become exhausted the next lower roll 47 is mounted on roller 45 and dispensed in the same manner as the first roll.

While the particular pasting machine for wall covering material herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A pasting machine for applying paste to strip wall covering material comprising, a main body provided with a shallow trough having a wide bottom and a generally upright side wall and end wall means across the ends thereof, the lower edge of said side wall being spaced from the underlying portion of said bottom to provide a dispensing slot for strip material lying bottom side up flush against said bottom, reticulated means along the lower edge of said side wall effective to distribute a thin layer of paste over the upper surface of the strip from a supply of paste resting against the trip inside the trough as the strip is dispensed through the slot, and resilient pressure plate means carried by said bottom along the under side of said dispensing slot urging the strip material into light pressure contact with said reticulated means.

2. A pasting machine as defined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of means for adjusting the pressure applied against said strip material while being dispensed through said slot.

3. A pasting machine as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said reticulated means comprises netting underlying a backing strip of supple impervious material.

4. A pasting machine as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said side wall includes means for holding the same detachably connected to said main body and permitting quick detachment thereof to facilitate loading and cleaning said machine.

5. A pasting machine as defined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of manually adjustable means for applying downward pressure on said side wall to press the strip material against said resilient pressure plate to a desired degree found most effective in providing a desired layer of paste on the strip material while being dispensed from said slot.

6. A pasting machine as defined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of quickly detachable drag means effective to hold said strip material pressed against said bottom adjacent the edge thereof remote from said dispensing slot and beneath which the strip is pulled while being dispensed from said slot.

7. A pasting machine as. denfied in claim 1 characterized in that said machine and said dispensing slot are adapted to be adjusted and loaded with multiple strips of roll material supported one strip against another on said bottom and beneath a charge of paste, said strips being adapted to be pasted and dispensed in succession beginning with the uppermost ones of said strips.

8. A pasting machine as defined in claim 7, characterized in the provision of'roller means for supporting a single roll at a time, and means for supporting additional rolls of strip material in readiness for transfer to said roller means as a previous roll becomes exhausted.

9. A pasting machine as defined in claim 1 including means carried by said main body for detachably clamping said machine to the top of a step ladder with said dispensing slot generally parallel to one face of the step ladder.

10. A pasting machine as defined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of manually adjust-able support means extending along and adjacent the exterior free edge of said pressure plate means in position to support dispensed strip material and to prevent tension applied to the strip during a dispensing operation from stressing said pressure plate means and deflecting the same in a direction to open said dispensing slot.

11. A pasting machine as defined in claim 9 characterized in the provision of panel means carried by said machine and extending downwardly below said dispensing slot at an acute angle to a vertical plane to provide a working surface useful in measuring the length of dispensed strip material and in folding the same into a convenient length preparatory to applying the same to a wall.

12. A pasting machine as defined in claim 11 characterized in that said panel means includes a rigid frame and a covering of taut sheeting.

13. A pasting machine as defined in claim 12 characterized in that said rigid frame is adjustable in length and includes means for clamping the same selectively in any desired extended position and compactly retracted.

14. A pasting machine as defined in claim 12 characterized in the provision of adjustable gripping means for gripping the opposite ends of said covering sheeting for said rigid frames and adapted to grip the sheeting in different positions as necessary to accommodate different extended lengths of said rigid frame.

15. A pasting machine as defined in claim 11 characterized in the provision of means on the underside of the main body for detachably clamping said panel means thereto with the panel means proper lying closely adjacent one side of a step ladder supporting said pasting machine.

16. A pasting machine as defined in claim 11 characterized in that said panel means includes rigid bar means extending crosswise thereof parallel to said dispensing slot on the downstream side thereof, said rigid bar means having a shearing edge lying normal to the lateral edges of the strip material and cooperable with a cutting blade in severing a dispensed length of pasted strip material from the main body of said strip.

17. A pasting machine for applying paste to strip wall covering material, said machine comprising an elongated main body having a shallow well for paste and a slot along one side for dispensing strip material coated with paste, means for detachably clamping said machine tothe top of a step ladder with said dispensing slot parallel to one side of the step ladder, lightweight panel means detachably carried by said machine and lying generally parallel to one side of the step ladder, and means along the side of said machine remote from said dispensing slot for supporting a roll of strip material with the free end thereof extending through said dispensing slot and resting against the interior bottom surface of said paste well, and shearing means between said dispensing slot and the upper transverse edge of said panel means for use in severing a dispensed length of strip material.

18. A pasting machine as defined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of an adjustable end wall for said shallow trough and including means for clamping said end wall selectively in different positions crosswide of the length of said trough to accommodate strip material of different widths.

19. A pasting machine as defined in claim 18 characterized in that said end wall clamping means comprises a single clamp acting between the bottom of said trough and said end wall and effective to clamp said end wall to the bottom and side wall of said trough in a manner to prevent passage of the paste therebeyond, and said adjustable end wall being readily detachable to facilitate cleaning said pasting machine after a period of use.

20. A pasting machine as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said resilient pressure plate comprises a long thin flexible plate having its inner edge secured to the bottom of said trough with its upper surface fiush with the adjacent surface of said bottom, the opposite outer edge of said pressure plate underlying the lower edge of said trough side wall and being unsupported and free to flex downwardly when downwardly acting pressure is applied to the upper side of said free edge, and said pressure plate acting normally to maintain a paste-tight seal on strip material threaded through said dispensing slot.

21. A pasting machine as defined in claim 20 characterized in the provision of support means extending along and adjacent the exterior edge of said pressure plate in position to support the upper one of a plurality of strips of material threaded through said dispensing slot so as to prevent downward deflection of said pressure plate during a dispensing operation and concurrently holding the layers below said top layer firmly pressed against the forward face of said machine to safeguard against unintended movement of said last-mentioned layers during a dispensmg operation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,375,493 5/1945 Randall 118415 X 2,421,073 5/1947 Kratz 118*413 2,717,575 9/1955 Merrifield 118415 X 3,169,080 2/1965 Hansen 11842 CHARLES A. WILMUTH, Primary Examiner. JOHN P. MCINTOSH, Examiner. 

